Ford would import the Ranger to China and has no plans to manufacture it locally, a spokeswoman said.

The Chinese government's pilot program to relax policies that restrict pickup trucks from driving in urban areas is a potential boon for Ford, whose F-series pickup truck has been a bestseller in the United States for more than 30 years.

The Ranger is sold in markets outside the United States. However, Ford plans to reintroduce the model, which is smaller than the F-150 truck, in the United States.

Last year, Ford announced plans to sell the premium Raptor version of the F-150 in China, to gauge demand in a relatively undeveloped market segment and change Chinese consumers' image of pickups as no-frills workhorses.